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PDF versionBoehner episode can start the dialogue
by Mario T. García on May. 16, 2011
"It is good for Catholic universities to host and engage the thoughts of powerful public figures, even Catholics such as yourself who fail to recognize (whether out of a lack of awareness or dissent) important aspects of Catholic teaching. We write in the hope that this visit will reawaken your familiarity with the teachings of your Church on matters of faith and morals as they relate to governance.
I want to weigh in on the controversy of House Speaker John Boehner being invited by the Catholic University of America to be its commencement speaker this past weekend.
As some of you know, 81 Catholic academics send a letter to Boehner pointing out that while they did not oppose his speaking at Catholic University, they were disappointed that as a Catholic himself, Boehner seems to have no sensitivity to Catholic social doctrine that focuses on social justice for working people and the poor.
Catholic social doctrine is a major foundation for the Church as a whole and has been supported by all popes since Pope Leo XIII issued his historic encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891 that set out the Church's teaching on social justice, especially in the industrializing societies.
The letter by these Catholic academics points out the contradiction of Catholic University hosting Boehner, who has one of the worst records on issues related to working people and the poor. This includes the recent Republican budget bill passed in the House of Representatives that would: substantially cut into such programs as maternal and child health grants, children's nutrition programs, food stamps; and scale back Medicaid and turn Medicare into a private program where the elderly would pay more for their own insurance.
How could Boehner as a Catholic support such cuts that are aimed at providing a social safety net to the poor, the unemployed, and the elderly? Does he perhaps not know about the Church's position on social justice?
The letter writers believe that perhaps he does not and as a result welcomes him to Catholic University where he either will learn about Catholic social doctrine or be given a refresher course on it. They write:
"Mr. Speaker, your voting record is at variance from one of the Church's most ancient moral teachings. From the apostles to the present, the Magisterium of the Church has insisted that those in power are morally obliged to preference the needs of the poor. Your record in support of legislation to address the desperate needs of the poor is among the worst in Congress. This fundamental concern should have great urgency for Catholic policy makers. Yet even now, you work in opposition to it."
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The Catholic academics, unlike those two years ago who protested the invitation by Notre Dame University to President Obama and called for the rescinding of the invitation because of the President's support for a woman's right to choose, did not call on Catholic University to rescind the invitation to Boehner. They were not part of what columnist Tim Rutten of the Los Angeles Times calls an "inquisition."
What these academics are doing -- and I am in agreement with them and I wish I had been asked to sign the letter -- is asking that Catholic University use the occasion of Boehner's commencement visit to address the inconsistency of the Church's embrace of social justice and Boehner's callous disregard for social justice. They are not, unlike the Notre Dame protestors, attempting to silence Boehner but only calling on him as a Catholic to address his seemingly opposition to Catholic social doctrine.
If nothing else, this confrontation, if we even want to call it this, might start a new dialogue on the relevancy of Catholic social doctrine in an era where conservative Catholic lay leaders, such as Boehner, are now in power and seem to have little concern for the poor and oppressed. I would welcome such a dialogue and call on other Catholic academics on their campuses to organize such forums.
CATHOLIC LAITY VOTE TOO
CATHOLIC LAITY VOTE TOO ....Thank you, Mario, for reminding us that the Catholic laity think and vote too. Political leaders can no longer expect that cutting deals with bishops is enough. For example, for sad reasons we all know, the bishops will never lean on Congress to protect children from sexual abuse. Congress has sat on, and will try to continue to sit on, legislation (1) to adopt an extended statute of limitation like Germany has, (2) to expand the RICO statute to cover conspiracies to commit child rape, as is now on trial in Philly, and (3) to fund more Department of Justice prosecutions of child abusers and facilitators. An election is coming and Catholics are fed up with leaders who fail to protect defenseless children. As Boehner and Pelosi have just learned with their House chaplain nominee, Catholc are watching and acting.
I want to weigh in on this
I want to weigh in on this also. How many of these so-called academics (most of them that signed this are mediocre at best) signed a letter urging President Obama to honor the Gospel Message of Life? Nothing in budget cuts is opposed to Catholic Social Teachings. Where does it say that big government is a Catholic belief?
With all due respect, if, as
With all due respect, if, as you rightly say, "Where does it say that big Government is a Catholic belief?", then President Obama need not be placed under the same scrutiny, especially since he is not Catholic.
By what measure, by which
By what measure, by which instrument, under what rubrics, do you, milbo, PhD., state with such bald self-assurance "most of them that signed this are mediocre at best?"
Your comments serve as testamentory to your authority in this matter.
Do not Catholic Social Teachings resonate with the commandment of Jesus to Feed the Hungry, especially the children, inclduing by such incompetent programs as Food Stamps and WIC?
Read "Economic Justice for All" for one.
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, receive the stranger, heal the sick, comfort the dying, these are not Marxist socialist liberal policies, but the commandments of Jesus to Love.
Saint James wrote that religion pure and simply is caring for widows and orphans in their distress. Does not the WIC program serve for you, Dr. milbo, this function, howsoever incompletely?
Or is your observance of our Faith so mediocre?
The lukewarm He spits out of His holy mouth.
Mario, you write: “How could
Mario, you write:
“How could Boehner as a Catholic support such cuts that are aimed at providing a social safety net to the poor, the unemployed, and the elderly? Does he perhaps not know about the Church's position on social justice?”
Mario, I believe that Jesus of Nazareth had no “position on social justice” – HE SIMPLY WAS SOCIAL JUSTICE, HE INCARNATES “SOCIAL JUSTICE” FOR US WHO BELIEVE IN HIM.
The focal point of the known life of Jesus of Nazareth was the poor, the outcast, the ostracized, the marginal people, the “little ones”, the ill, the lame, lepers, blind, those rejected by the his own religion and society. “He showed compassion” is probably the most often repeated assessment of his state of mind in relation to the thousands of people with whom he came into contact in his daily life as he worked to build the Kingdom of his Father “Abbá” (Daddy), “on earth as it is in heaven.” Today we call it that “other possible society”, that “other possible world” where we do not have one of our sisters or brothers dying of hunger every 4 seconds as in today’s world while we merrily assassinate our dear Mother Earth with our individual greed. Apart from SOCIAL JUSTICE, ¿did Jesus have any other plan in mind?
Anyone who really believes in Jesus and his life plan obviously is going to reflect that same pattern in her or his personal and public life. The uncomfortable question is: ¿Just how often do we produce another Francis of Assisi, Damian of Molokai, Teresa of Calcutta, Dorothy Day of the Bowery, etc. in our Roman Catholic Church today?
¿How many millions of us “RCC MEMBERS” are actually convinced today that believing in Jesus means precisely to buy into his life-long plan, the only reason for which he was born, lived, was assassinated and now arisen lives among us? “What you do to the least of my brethren YOU DO UNTO ME ... Love your enemies and do good to them. ... Love one another just as I have loved you. etc. etc.”
This is the only reason for the existence of the “Catholic Church”. If we find that our “Catholic people in Public Life” are not in line with the life project of Jesus, we best ask ourselves: “¿ARE WE REALLY GIVING THEM MUCH EXAMPLE AND ENCOURAGEMENT WITH OUR OWN LIVES? “ John Boehner might just be our opportunity for a “reality check” that could just show that we as “the Catholic Church” are failing utterly, substantially, and perhaps even taking great strides, but off the path.
Justiniano de Managua
Sadly, the Speaker's
Sadly, the Speaker's commencement address was a "feel good" message, with a few sobs and a "darn." While I do not criticize his emotional sincerity, there was no substance, or acknowledgment of the responsibility of leadership. There was a little "be good" advice, citing humility, patience and faith. Oh yes, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. But there was no "do good" challenge. The opportunity for the third most important elected official to address the the graduating class of the Catholic University of America, and the nation, about the issues and developing situations our nation is facing and dealing with, served more as a replaying of the usual graduation processional, "Pomp and Circumstance," and displaying of teary eyes and sniffles.
Paz y Bien, Rolando, SFO.
The same letter should
The same letter should DEFINITELY go to Paul Ryan, who shows even less awareness of Catholic social teaching.
Come to think of it, a few
Come to think of it, a few bishops ought to receive the letter as well. Let's work up a list.
Perhaps mcassidy, we should
Perhaps mcassidy, we should send you a letter regarding the Church's beautiful Gospel of Life.
It is not just the social
It is not just the social teachings of the Church that Boehner ignores, it is the fundamental teaching of the Gospels. How we treat the least among us is how we are to be judged. this rugged individualism is not part of the Gospels, in fact it is rejected by Jesus in word and action. We a a society and church need to ask how do we treat the poor and the outcast. Do we follow Jesus' example or Darwins?
Why is it the federal
Why is it the federal Government's job to care for the poor!?
At the very least subsidiarity might dictate a more local approach, and private and church charity might work even better.
Just because Speaker Boehner does not want to dump more tax money into the social services pot, does not necessarily mean he does not care for the poor.
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